Pharmacology is a scientific discipline which is interested in the chemical properties of pharmaceuticals and their classification. It encompasses:

• galenic pharmacy, which designates the manufacture of drugs, their storage, their mode of administration, etc;
• pharmacodynamics, which studies the effects of active substances on the body;
• pharmacokinetics, which deals with how the body absorbs, distributes, processes and eliminates drugs;
• the prescription rules, and in particular the indications or contraindications to taking a particular medication, the dosage, etc.

We can also add:

• pharmacovigilance, which is concerned with the detection, evaluation, understanding and prevention of the risks of adverse drug reactions;
• pharmacoepidemiology, which focuses on the characterization of drug use in populations or social groups;
• pharmacogenetics, with the study of the variation of the effects or the kinetics of drugs according to the genetic characteristics of the individual;
• or drug dependence, which is concerned with monitoring the addictive potential of legal drugs and substances.

In France, the pharmacologue is a doctor, a pharmacist or a drug specialist. In Quebec he is a scientist specializing in drugs.

The pharmacologist can work in several areas:

• in the pharmaceutical industry, to discover or develop new drugs;
• in the biotechnology industry, to improve the efficacy of existing drugs or to develop new ones;
• in a hospital environment, as a doctor specializing in pharmacology or as an expert with pharmacists and doctors on interactions between drugs during therapeutic treatments;
• in government, especially in the creation and management of public policies for the certification of drugs, drug administration, etc.
• or in a research center or a university laboratory, to assess the efficacy and safety of drugs, in particular by performing clinical trials.

Taking medication can cause side effects. And when several drugs are found in the body, their interaction can have harmful effects, cause treatment failure, amplify certain effects or even become toxic.

Training as a pharmacologist in France

Since the pharmacologist is a doctor, pharmacist or specialist scientist, there are several ways to practice pharmacology:

• a master’s degree in science, specializing in pharmacology;
• a doctorate in pharmacology;
• or in the course of medical studies, it is possible to specialize by following a diploma of complementary specialized studies (DESC) in clinical pharmacology and treatment evaluation. This is obtained after 6 years of medicine, an internship and two years of additional specialization to obtain the DESC.

Pharmacology training in Quebec

There are different ways to study pharmacology:

• a microprogram (in clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, etc.)
• a specialized graduate degree (DESS) in clinical pharmacology
• a master’s degree in research
• or a doctorate, to become a researcher in pharmacology (in academia, industry or government).

Before seeing a pharmacologist (if he is a doctor, otherwise there is no reason to consult a pharmacologist as a patient), it is important to have all his prescriptions in his possession and to write down the name and the quantity of drugs consumed. The goal is to be able to control any interactions that could harm the treatment.